Washing machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. HIRSTEL WASHING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1934 INVENTOR. ,Daz/eHz'nr/e/ BY wry ATTORNEY.

Oct. 26, 1937.

Oct. 26, 1931. D. HIRSTEL 2,096,806

WASHING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1934 4 Sheets-Shet 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,096,806 WASHING MACHINE i cam.

Application June 22, 1934, Serial No. 731,839

9 Claims.

This invention relates to tray washing machines of the class adapted to be attached to the standard laundry wash trays or tubs, however the same mechanism may be used on other types of washing machines.

Amongthe objects of the invention one is to provide a mechanism adapted to be driven by a motor, that is simple, and which has few wearing Darts.

Another object is to provide means to transmit the power of the motor to a master shaft from which the washing agitator and wringer may be operated separately or together as desired.

Another object is to provide a reversible motor to drive the master shaft whereby the master shaft may transmit an oscillating motion to the clothes agitator, and a continuous rotary motion to the wringer, the reversing of the motor revers ing the wringer without aifecting the action of the agitator.

Another object is to provide means to swing the wringer out of the way when not needed, and means to lock it in the operating position, and out of the operating position, and means to lock the rollers of the wringer from turning when the wringer is swung out of the operating position.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to throw the agitator out of gear, and separate means to throw the wringer out of gear when the motor is running or not.-

Another object is to provide an inclosed housing for the moving parts of the machine, and the provision of means to use a rotary seal on the agitator shaft so that the splash system of lubrication may be used, the housing to be made preferably of sheet steel, the base member to be of steel or a certain type of plywood.

Another object is the means for clamping the washing machine to the laundry tray in a re silient grip to allow for the expansion and contraction of the base of the machine when steel is used therefor to reduce the vibration when the machine is operating.

Another object is the use of an automatic cut out switch for the motor whereby the motor will stop instantaneously if anything is caught in the wringer or when the machine is overloaded, the same switch being used to ieverse the motor.

Another object is to provide the use of a drive chain which will act as a shock absorbing means.

Other objects will appear to those skilled in the art to which it appertains as the description progresses.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which th same reference-numeral is applied to the same portion throughout the several views, and of which there may be modifications. I

Figure 1 is a front view of the machine as applied to the laundry tray, the tray and parts of the. machine being in section.

Figure 2 is a plan of the washer partly in section, and showing the wringer out of operative position in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view partly in section showing the arrangement of clutches and means for locking the wringer out of operative position.

Figure 6 is a plan view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5, but not showing the gears.

Figure '7 is a sectional View of the safety looking means.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan of the clutch for operating the agitator member.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of means for clamping the machine to the laundry tray.

Figure 10 is a plan of the means of clamping the tray.

Figure 11 is a modified form of the tray clamping means.

Figure 12 is a modified form in plan for operating the agitator.

Figure 13 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 12.

The construction in detail of the washing machine comprises a base member I which is adapted to set on the back left hand top portion of the laundry tray 2 which may be any kind of a receptacle, but in this instance a standard laundry tray having the partition 3 dividing it into two compartments is shown.

Mounted on the base I is the motor 4 having its shaft 5 connected to a drive shaft 6 by means of a coupling 1, suitable bearings 8 and 9 being provided in the housing I 0 which is attached to the base Fixed to the shaft 6 is the worm H in mesh with the worm wheel l2 fixed on the shaft l3 so that this vertical master shaft is driven continuously when the motor is running.

The vertical shaft [3 has the lower bearing [4 in the housing In, and the upper bearing in the top of the rotatable housing l5 as shown at I6, the rotatable housing being mounted to turn on the stationary vertical housing H which is fastened to the housing H! by means of the flange l8 and the bolts l9.

The rotatable housing is adapted to carry the wringer 20 on the projection 2| of the housing a secured by the ears 22 and 23 on the wringer by means of the bolts 24.

The lower roll 25 of the wringer has the shaft 26 fixed to a bevel gear 21 which is in mesh with the pinion 28 freely mounted on shaft I3, and supported by the collar 29.

The pinion 28 has co-acting jaws for the slidable jaw clutch 30 which slides on the key 3| on the shaft l3, the clutch being raised or lowered by the handle 32, short shaft 33, crank 34 and pivoted block 35 in the groove 36 of the clutch member, when the clutch is down the jaws are in mesh and the wringer rolls are driven by the shaft.

In the present invention there is oniyone position of the wringer in which the clutch may be thrown into mesh, and that is in the operative position shown in Figure 2 in full lines. e

In any other position the clutch is locked against downward movement, and this locking means consists simply of block 31 which engages the groove of the clutch and extends down to the top of the stationary portion of the housing 38 and slides around on the top edge thereof, a notch 39 in the edge allows the block to come down to bring the clutch into mesh so the motor can drive the wringer through the vertical shaft, when the clutch is raised the wringer is out of gear and may be swung around to the position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 2 and to hold it in that position a shallow notch ll is provided which allows the block to enter but holds the clutch out of mesh as shown in Figure 5.

The housings i5 and I! are provided with flanges ll and 42 and are held in position by the two half collars 43 and H which are secured by the bolts 45.

Mounted in the housing It is the agitator shaft 46 to which is adjustably fixed the agitator 41 located in about the center of the tray compartment, the shaft has the bearings N and 49 in the housing, and the bearing 49 is provided with a nonleakable oil seal 49 of the rotary type which prevents the possibility of oil leaking into the wash tray.

The agitator is given an oscillating movement by means of the eccentric '50 rotatably mounted on shaft 13 and having jaws 5| adapted to mesh with the jaws of the clutch member 52 slidably mounted on the shaft and key 53, the clutch being operated by the handle 54, a short shaft 55, crank 55, and pivoted block 51 in the groove of the clutch member to slide it up or down.

The eccentric is adapted to rotate in a slidable block 58 in the frame 5! which is secured to a sprocket wheel by the rivets I or other suitable means, the sprocket being mounted on the pin 52 in the housing I. spaced from the shaft ii, a slot 63 allows for the oscillating movement of the sprocket, and the oscillating movement of the sprocket is transmitted by a chain 64 to the agitator by the sprocket 65 fixed on the shaft 46.

The base I of the machine is clamped to the tray by the resilient means shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11 to allow for the expansion and contraction of the metal in the base caused by the changing from hot to cold water in the washing operation. In Figures 9 and 10 the guide 66 is attached to the base in any suitable way such as welding, and a threaded bolt 51 is mounted therein, a spring member 5| is fixed to the end of the bolt and is adapted to press on the side of the tray acting against a clamp member 59 which is pressed by the spring II and adjusted by the nut II, and the bolt is held in the adjusted position by the nuts 12 and II.

A strip of resilient material 14 may be used to take the vibrationsof the machine when running.

In the modified form of clamp shown in Figure 1 the resilient means consists of rubber or other resilient material I5 in the top and sides, and a clamp 16 fixed to the bolt 68, and a clamp I1 adjusted by the nut 18 which provides a resilient means of clamping the machine to the tray.

aooaeoe block 58 in the opening 80 .in the arm, the arm being pivoted on the shaft 55.

The oscillating movement of the arm is transmitted to the'agitator by means of a metal ribbon Bl which is secured to the arm at 82 and passes over the pulleys 83 and 84 to the pulley l to which it is secured at 85.

The motor is provided with a reversing switch 81 which controls the operation of the machine, the direction of rotation of the master shaft l3, and the automatic cut out device is located in the switch casing.

In operation the clothes and water being placed in the tray in the usual way, the wringer is thrown out of gear and swung around out of the way of the washing operation, the motor oscillates the agitator until the clothes are clean, the clutch of the agitator is then thrown out by the handle 54 and the handle 32 on the wringer is raised enough to release it from the shallow notch 40, whereupon the wringer is swung around into operating position and the handle 32 then throws the clutch in operation, and the block into the notch 3! thereby starting the operation of the wringer, the motor switch being set so the wringer will convey the clothes into the other compartment of the tray. The motor is reversed to convey the clothes back into the first compartment into blueing water, and then again the wringer is reversed to convey the clothes back to complete the operation.

The machine is left clamped to the tray preferably but may be moved if desired.

From the foregoing description it will be 'seenthat a very simple and eflective machine for the purpose has been evolved.

Particularly by the employment of the mecha-- nism disclosed in the modified form shown in Figs. 12 and 13 of applicant's drawings are ellicacious results obtained. By thus providing between the mechanism for effecting oscillatorymovement, which includes the eccentric 50, and the element to be oscillated, which includes the shaft 46 and the agitator 41 for providing the washing action, a drive connection comprising a metal band or ribbon ll, a silent, vibrationless operation is assured because of the elimination of gear or sprocket arrangements inevitably resulting in noise and vibration.

In this modification of the invention it will also be noted that the band 8 l by being fixedly secured to the oscillating member I9, such as indicated at point 02, provides a belt drive connection which will not slip. Because of the provision of this means the whipping or oscillation of the element to be oscillated, namely, the agitator II, will be immediately responsive or synchronous with each change of direction of oscillatory movement of member 19. Thus, the agitator 51 will not be sub-- ject to any period of dwell or lost motion at any ordinarily encountered in drive connections em-v bodying gear or sprocket arrangements and which impairs the efficiency of the mechanism as well as its proper washing action is avoided. Not only, therefore, by employing a metal band or ribbon as a drive connection between the oscillating mechanism and the element to be oscillated is there provided desirable quietness and smoothness of operation because of the elimination of noisy or vibrating gears, but more effective washing action and increased life of the mechanism is chdescribed form thereof within the purview of the.

annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A washing machine of the class described comprising a base, a housing on said base, a horizontal drive shaft journaled in said housing, a motor to drive said shaft, a vertical shaft driven by said horizontal shaft, a vertical agitator shaft journaled in said housing and extending through the bottom of said housing, a sprocket wheel, a short shaft for said sprocket fixed in said housing and spaced from the vertical shaft, an opening in said sprocket to allow said sprocket to oscillate on the vertical shaft, an eccentric on the vertical shaft, 2. bearing block for said eccentric, a frame fixed to said sprocket, a guideway in said frame for said block, a sprocket wheel on said agitator shaft and a chain around said sprocket wheels.

2. A washing machine of the class described comprising a base adapted to be clamped to a laundry tray, a housing on said base, a horizontal shaft journaled in said housing, a worm on said shaft, a vertical shaft journaled in said housing, a worm wheel on said shaft in mesh with said worm, an eccentric freely mounted on said vertical shaft, a slidable block forming a bearing for said eccentric, clutch teeth on said eccentric, a

slidable clutch member having teeth to engage said clutch teeth, a frame having a guideway for said slidable block, a sprocket wheel having a pivot pin in the housing and spaced a short distance from said vertical shaft, means to fix said frame to said sprocket wheel, an oscillating shaft journaled.

in said housing, a sprocket wheel on said shaft, and a chain for said sprocket wheels.

3. A washing machine of the class described comprising a base, a housing on said base, a horizontal drive shaft journaled in said housing, a motor to drive said drive shaft, a vertical shaft driven by said drive shaft, a second vertical shaft journaled in said housing and extending through the bottom of said housing, a pulley wheel, a short shaft for said pulley wheel fixed in said housing and spaced fromv the first vertical shaft, an opening in the pulley wheel to allow said pulley to oscillate on the first vertical shaft, an eccentric on the first vertical shaft, a bearing block for said eccentric, a frame fixed to said pulley, a guideway for said block in said frame, a frame fixed to said pulley wheel, a pulley wheel on said second vertical shaft and a belt around said pulley wheels.

4. A washing machine of the class described comprising a vertical shaft adapted to be driven, an eccentric connected to said vertical shaft, a slidable block for said eccentric, an oscillating shaft, an oscillating arm having a guideway for said slidable block and pivoted on said oscillating shaft, a pulley fixed on said oscillating shaft, guide pulleys spaced apart, and an endless flexible belt fixed to said arm and passing around said guide pulleys and fixed to said pulley on the oscillating shaft.

5. In a washing machine having an agitator to be oscillated, driving mechanism to effect oscillatory movement including a drive shaft, an eccentric connected to said drive shaft, a slidable member engaged by said eccentric, and a pivoted oscillating arm having a guideway for said slidable member; and a belt driving connection between said mechanism and said agitator comprising a metal ribbon,- said ribbon being fixedly secured to said mechanism to effect oscillatory movement of said agitator immediately responsive to change of movement of said mechanism and without backlash.

6. Driving mechanism for a washing machine agitator or the like, comprising a pulley connectable with said agitator, mechanism to effect o'scillatory movement and including a pulley and an oscillating arm, a ribbon passing over said pulleys, and means securing said ribbon to said pulley connectible with said agitator shaft and said oscillating arm whereby change of directional movement of said mechanism is immediately transmitted to said ribbon.

7. A washing machine of the class described, comprising a. drive shaft, an eccentric connected to said drive shaft, a slidable member engaged by said eccentric, an agitator shaft adapted to be oscillated, an arm pivoted about said agitator shaft and having a guideway for said slidable member, pulley means connected with said agitator shaft, other pulley means adjacent said drive shaft, and an endless flexible belt, fixed to said arm and to said pulley means connected with said agitator shaft and passing around said other pulley means.

8. A washing machine of the class described, comprising a drive shaft, an eccentric connected to said drive shaft, a slidable member engaged by said eccentric, an agitator shaft adapted to be oscillated, an oscillating arm pivoted about said agitator shaft and having a guideway for said slidable member, spaced apart pulley means adiacent said drive shaft, other pulley means about said agitator shaft, and an endless flexible metal belt passing around said pulley means for imparting oscillating movement from said arm to said agitator shaft, said belt being fixed to said other pulley means and to said oscillating arm.

9. Driving mechanism for a washing machine agitator comprising a pulley connectible with said agitator; mechanism to effect oscillatory movement of said agitator including a drive shaft, an eccentric connected to said drive shaft and an oscillating member connected with said eccentric; and a metal ribbon driving connection between said mechanism and said agitator, said ribbon being fixedly secured to said oscillating member and to said pulley to effect oscillatory movement of said agitator immediately responsive to change of movement of said mechanism and without backlash.

DAVE HIRSTEL 

